Abortion in young women and subsequent
mental health
David M. Fergusson, L. John Horwood, and Elizabeth M. Ridder Christchurch Health and Development Study, Christchurch, New Zealand

Background: The extent to which abortion has harmful consequences for mental health remains controversial. We aimed to examine the linkages between having an abortion and mental health outcomes over the interval from age 15–25 years. Methods: Data were gathered as part of the Christchurch Health and Development Study, a 25-year longitudinal study of a birth cohort of New Zealand children. Information was obtained on: a) the history of pregnancy/abortion for female participants over the interval from 15–25 years; b) measures of DSM-IV mental disorders and suicidal behaviour over the intervals 15–18, 18–21 and 21–25 years; and c) childhood, family and related confounding factors. Results: Forty-one percent of women had become pregnant on at least one occasion prior to age 25, with 14.6% having an abortion. Those having an abortion had elevated rates of subsequent mental health problems including depression, anxiety, suicidal behaviours and substance use disorders. This association persisted after adjustment for confounding factors. Conclusions: The ﬁndings suggest that abortion in young women may be associated with increased risks of mental health problems. Keywords: Abortion, pregnancy, mental disorder, depression, anxiety, suicidal behaviour, substance dependence.

There have been ongoing debates about the issue of
abortion as a response to unwanted pregnancy.These debates have centred around a series of ethical, religious and other issues concerning the rights of the fetus and the mother in circumstances of unwanted pregnancy (Blanchard, 2002; Chen, 2004; Major, 2003). Although much of the debate in this

area has focused on ethical issues, it has also involved empirical concerns about the linkages between unwanted pregnancy, abortion and long-term mental health.
Speciﬁcally, a number of authors have proposed
that abortion may have longer-term adverse mental
health effects owing to feelings of guilt, unresolved
loss and lowered self-esteem (Ney, Fung, Wickett, &
Beaman-Dodd, 1994; Speckhard & Rue, 1992).
These concerns have been most clearly articulated
by Reardon and colleagues who claim that abortionmay increase risks of a wide range of mental disorders, including substance abuse, anxiety, hostility, low self-esteem, depression and bipolar disorder (Cougle, Reardon, & Coleman, 2003; Reardon &

Cougle, 2002; Reardon et al., 2003). Despite such
claims, the evidence on the linkages between abortion and mental health proves to be relatively weak with some studies ﬁnding evidence of this linkage
(Gissler, Hemminki, & Lonnqvist, 1996; Reardon &
Cougle, 2002; Reardon et al., 2003) and others failing to ﬁnd such linkages (Gilchrist, Hannaford, Frank, & Kay, 1995; Major et al., 2000; Pope, Adler,
& Tschann, 2001; Zabin, Hirsch, & Emerson, 1989).
Furthermore, the studies in this area have been
marked by a number of design limitations, including
the use of selected samples, limited length of followup, retrospective reports of mental health prior to

abortion, and failure to control confounding (Adler,
2000; Major et al., 2000).
Perhaps the most comprehensive analysis of this
topic is provided by an analysis of the National
Longitudinal Study of Youth (NLSY) reported by
Cougle et al. (2003). This analysis found that women
who reported induced abortion were 65% more likely
to score in the high-risk range for clinical depression
than women whose pregnancies resulted in birth.
This association was evident after control for a
number of prospectively assessed confounders
including pre-pregnancy psychological state. However, there were potential limitations of this study. First, the study failed to provide...

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...Abortion is the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo before viability.[note 1] An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is often called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced. The term abortion most commonly refers to the induced abortion of a human pregnancy. After viability, the relevant procedure is referred to as a "late termination of pregnancy".[1][note 1] Modern medicine utilizes medications and surgical procedures for induced abortion.
Abortion, when induced in the developed world in accordance with local law, is among the safest procedures in medicine.[2] Uncomplicated abortions do not cause either long term psychological or physical problems.[3] Unsafe abortions, however, result in approximately 47,000 maternal deaths[3] and 5 million hospital admissions per year globally.[4]
An estimated 44 million abortions are performed globally each year, with slightly under half of those performed unsafely.[5] The number of abortion has stabilized in recent years,[5] having previously spent decades declining as access to family planning education and contraceptive services increased.[6] Forty percent of the world's women have access to legal induced abortions (within gestational limits).[7]
Induced abortion has a long history and...

...﻿THE ABORTION BATTLE
Title: Abortion: Killing a Human Being
Topic: The ethics behind the practice of abortion and validating it as a murder
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Attention Materials: Mention the story of a Philadelphian doctor who committed wrongful abortions. Segue into the the fetus from conception to its first few moments to the legal moments were abortion can take place (first trimester in states where it is legal). Stress that this is different from a cancer! Briefly state how the abortion process kills the fetus. Explain the physical effects on the parent(s) as well as the emotional effects that abortion is known to cause (provide statistics and remembering comparisons). Acknowledge the pro-choice argument in all facets covered as well as common pro-choice arguments, such as rape. Address the issue and conclude with how action shall be taken and what predicted statistics can occur from this change.
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...Aftermath of an Abortion To have abortion or not is a very difficult choice to make. The final choice comes from religious and ethical beliefs. However, to have an abortion means to participate in a horrendous crime against humanity, God, and oneself. Abortion can also have deleterious effects on the mother’s health and well being. Many of the couples, mainly the mothers, that have an abortion tend to go into a state of depression known as Post-abortion syndrome. Negative effects on the mother’s body can also stem from using abortion methods, such as the use of RU 486, a controversial abortion pill; increased risk of breast cancer is another effect of abortions. Other side effects of abortion, from emotional scars to a detachment from God and religion can also result. The choice to have an abortion is not only immoral and murder, but it can lead to negative effects on the mothers psychological, physical, and spiritual well being.
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...Reasons Why Stand Against Abortion
An abortion is a violation of the most important human right, the right to live. With its practice people not only make one of the grades misdeeds, but also puts at risk the life of the mother. The abortion is an action condemned by God, and all those who form part of such action, will not be welcome in heaven. The abortion causes both physical and psychological damage, and doctors should raise awareness to their patients about these consequences, instead of being part of an event as disastrous as this.
The abortion is murder and should be condemned who practice it. If we go to Wikipedia where the word murder is defined as "the result of an act or omission by which deprives of life to another person either intentionally or negligently", we can clearly say that abortion is murder, and even worse, is taking the life of an innocent child who cannot even defend themselves.
Anonymous:
A fetus has a right to live, even if that means the mother has to carry it. A mother has a duty to care for her children when born. If she doesn't execute this duty, she might be charged with child endangerment, negligence, child abuse, etc. Therefore, the law forces a mother "to use her body" to take care of another who cannot survive on its own - ie: the...

...﻿
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...
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